The university has come under fire for its failure to properly consult the arts and humanities departments in its decision to renovate the Raymond Burton Library.
Over Easter, the library was closed in order to facilitate the creation of 59 new study spaces, at the expense of several key reference-only books from the English, history, and medieval studies courses which were moved into storage.
These books are still available for use, but they are only available by request which may take up to a day.
It has been alleged that the changes break the terms of the Raymond Burton Library gift which may entail that the resource stays in its original condition – but according to Hannah Pinsent, postgraduate representative for the Arts and Humanities faculty, the library “doesn’t accept” that this is the case.
After Community and Well-Being Officer Scott Dawson praised the changes on a Facebook post, Pinsent claimed that he was “representing only one half of the story.
She said: “Leaving out the concerns and lack of consultation to those who rely on the resources which have now been archived which bought [sic] the change about.”
Although Pinsent acknowledged the need for more spaces to work, she claimed that the consultation period was “non-existent” and viewed the changes as a “quick fix.”
The move has been blasted by both students AND staff in the departments affected.
A history lecturer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that “the department is very disappointed at the way the change was made, and how it was handled.”
The lecturer later added that the disappointment felt was “unanimous,” and that there was a reluctancy by staff to talk openly about the issue as they “don’t want to spoil relations with the library.”
University Registrar and Secretary David Duncan claimed consultation about the changes had been “extensive,” and this was the “right decision.”
He went on to say the change was “timely as we approach the busiest time of year in the University Library.”
Third year Criminology student Kaytlin Hunter thought the changes were positive, saying “it’s great that we have extra study space, especially as the library gets so busy around this time of year."
Scott Dawson said "Having spoken to course and department reps within the History department it seems that they were not consulted on the change within Raymond Burton.
"Overall many students want more study space in the library.
"This increase in seating is impressive given the space restraints of the library.
"However it seems rather clear that the consultation was handled badly as neither students or staff were made fully aware of the changes."
As part of the changes, the Raymond Burton library will now extend its opening hours from 8am to 10pm to 24/7.
In response to this article, I’d like to make the following points on behalf of the Library:
* The consultation period was necessarily short in order to ensure that we were able to complete the refurbishment before the Summer term. However, departments were able to comment and took this opportunity; the plans were then amended to accommodate the views of academic staff and postgraduate students – for example, moving microforms, rather than books.
* The article states that “several key reference-only books… were moved into storage” and that these items “are only available by request which may take up to a day”. This is not accurate:
o 65% of the book stock has been returned to the Burton Reading Room – this includes all items which were marked as essential by departments.
o The remaining books are housed in Compact Store 2, which can be accessed at any time by staff and students.
o Journals and selected microform collections have been moved to the offsite store. They can be requested and many are also available in electronic format via YorSearch.
* The article reports a suggestion that the Library may have broken the terms of the Raymond Burton Library gift. In fact there were no terms to the gift, but we believe that we have maintained the spirit in which the gift was given, which was to support research and study in the humanities.
* There is a clear need for additional seating in the Library; it’s a point consistently raised in the NSS and LibQual surveys, with postgraduate students in particular citing a need for more silent study spaces. The Morrell and Fairhurst buildings are already at seating capacity from a safety perspective, so the Burton is the only space available to increase study spaces. In adding 59 seats, we have increased the seating capacity of the Reading Room by 50%.
* By extending the Burton opening hours to 24/7, in line with the other Library buildings, we have increased access to the resources held in the Raymond Burton Reading Room, and the Microform Room.
* Over the summer we will be working with academic colleagues and postgraduate students to understand the requirements for a 21st century humanities reading room with a view to nuancing the development and ensuring it fits the needs of researchers and students.
Joanne Casey
Communications & Marketing Manager
Information Services
It is worth noting that this proposal was discussed at length through the Library Committee, which is chaired by a Professor from the English Department